Scipion-class ship of the line

The Scipion class was a class of three 74-gun ships of the line built to a design by François-Guillaume Clairin-Deslauriers, the ingénieur-constructeur en chef at Rochefort Dockyard. These were the shortest 74-gun ships built by France since the 1750s, and they were found to lack stability as a consequence. The third ship - originally the Pluton - was 'girdled' (sheathed) with 32 cm of pine at Rochefort in 1799 to overcome her instability, and the design of two further ships ordered at the same dockyard in 1779 were lengthened.

• Scipion

Builder: Rochefort Dockyard

Ordered: early 1778

Begun: 10 April 1778

Launched: 19 September 1778

Completed: February 1779

Fate: Wrecked in Samana Bay, off San Domingo on 19 October 1782.

• Hercule

Builder: Rochefort Dockyard

Ordered: early 1778

Begun: 1 April 1778

Launched: 5 October 1778

Completed: February 1779

Fate: Razéed to 50-gun frigate in February to June 1794, and renamed Hydre in May 1795; discarded 1797.

• Pluton

Builder: Rochefort Dockyard

Ordered: early 1778

Begun: 10 April 1778

Launched: 5 November 1778

Completed: February 1779

Fate: Renamed Dugommier on 17 December 1797. Taken to pieces at Brest in 1805.

Scipion raking HMS London during the action of 18 October 1782.
Class overview
Name	Scipion
Operators	French Navy
Succeeded by	Argonaute class
Completed	3
Lost	1
Scrapped	2
General characteristics
Type	Ship of the line
Tons burthen	1,500 tonnes
Length	53.8 m (176 ft 6 in)
Beam	14.1 m (46 ft 3 in)
Draught	7.3 m (23 ft 11 in)
Propulsion	Sails
Armament	74 to 78 guns of various weights of shot